All Posts by Dieter Bohn

We've given you a full review of the T-Mobile G1 from a hardware perspective and also shown you a video walkthough of the basics how how Android works, now it's time to give a full review of Android itself. More specifically, however, we should note that this is a review of Android as it *currently exists* on the T-Mobile G1 platform. One of the important things to note about Android is that...

That, folks, is how you unlock a T-Mobile G1. It's pretty darn simple: just insert your non-T-Mobile SIM card and then enter in your SIM unlock code. How to get one of those? Simple: T-Mobile has promised they'll continue their policy of offering free unlock codes to customers after 90 days with a phone. If you're in a hurry to get it done faster, there are plenty of places to buy them...

The G1 mania continues. Today we bring you a video walkthrough of the basic features of Android. The manual that comes with the T-Mobile G1 is pretty sparse, so watch the above video to get a handle on how to navigate around the G1's homescreen and learn some tips and tricks for getting more power out of Android!

One of the biggest hassles in the Gmail program on Android is that the buttons you're going to want to use the most aren't easy to find. Sure, "Archive," "Label" and "Delete are simply two button pushes (underneath the menu) away, but Reply, Reply to All and Forward are on-screen buttons that appear at the bottom of every email. This can be a huge hassle -- huge as in "Oh my god, I might not...

It's launch day for the G1 today and undoubtedly people are going to be hunting down some accessories. The G1's screen has a few of problems with it. First: it's plastic and therefore vulnerable to scratches. Second: it's pretty reflective and is susceptible to glare. Third: it collects fingerprints with a vengeance.
So naturally the first thing I wanted to do was slap a screen protector...

Here you go, folks, a full-on gallery of the T-Mobile G1 from every angle. Special attention is given to some of the more interesting parts -- the keyboard isn't so good in medium light, but fine in bright light and no-light, the SD Card slot can be hard to find, the slider mechanism is really geek-cool, and so on. Of *course* we'll have much more on the Android Operating system, but for...

Casey has lined up out in California, he arrived at 6am Pacific time to ensure that he would be able to get his G1. Looks like that won't be a problem, as the line consists of ....him. He writes:
There is an epically hilarious sign that points to where the line should start and line cards will be handed out.
We knew that T-Mobile is planning on using G1 Voucher Cards to ensure there...

We've confirmed that even though some people who pre-ordered may not be getting their G1s on launch day, T-Mobile stores are indeed getting stocked up on G1s. That's unfortunately not the full story, though. Although stores in areas with T-Mobile 3G are getting as many as 80 devices apiece, stores in areas without T-Mobile 3G are not going to be receiving them at all. So if you're planning...

Here we go! The T-Mobile G1 is in the house in all its Bronze Glory! We compare it to a bootload of other devices, including the T-Mobile Wing, The T-Mobile Shadow, , the T-Mobile Pearl Flip, the iPhone 3G, the BlackBerry Bold, and the Samsung Instinct.
Much Much more to come, check back at AndroidCentral.com!

Buying yourself a T-Mobile G1 off eBay? Better hope that it's either unlocked or that you can get yourself an active T-Mobile SIM card. The G1's much-vaunted first step during the setup is to enter your Google login username and password. Once that happens, the G1 attempts to connect to Google's servers to get your email, contacts, and calendar set up.
Here's the thing, though, if (or when...

One of the bummers during the G1 Announcement was T-Mobile exec Cole Brodman telling us two things in no uncertain terms:
No Tethering your G1 to your Laptop to use its internet connection
No Unlocking the device to use on other networks.
Well, Engadget got a sit down with him and discovered that there is a little bit of uncertainty within those terms after all.
First, the thing is open...

Good news, developers, the SDK for developing applications for Android and their brand new app market is no longer a pre-release, but is official. Go check out the details at the developer's blog:
Yes, that means we're officially at 1.0. Of course the SDK won't remain static—we'll keep improving the tools by adding features and fixing bugs. But now developers can rely on the APIs in the...

We already mentioned that T-Mobile customers can pre-order the G1 now, but there's a lot more to the G1 website up now. Check out the specs page for good information:
3 megapixel camera
Touch Screen
IM, Text, and Email all support and will work with multiple services
3G -- you can find out whether or not T-Mobile has 3G in your area
Included applications like Maps (with Street View!), Gmail,...

Here's the longer-form demo video from the T-Mobile G1 Launch Event, with a quick focus on how easy the Amazon MP3 store is to use on the G1. The long-press as "right click" or "context click" also get some attention as well.
Update: Full video now posted, to the dulcet sounds of silence (Hey, T-Mobile has rocking music on their just-posted site, we figured you cubicle-types could use a...

HTC's page on the G1 is now posted and, boy oh boy, is it detailed. Check it out. Details on top of details:
256MB ROM / 192MB RAM (The ROM is for Storage, the RAM is for running programs)
4.60 in x 2.16 in x 0.62 in
5.57 ounces
3.2 inch 320 x 480 Touchscreen
Radio Bands: Quad Edge, on the US the bands are 1700/2100, in Europe it's 2100. In other words, if you do manage to unlock it, it won...

Talk about elegant and secure: Android and the G1 have a unique unlocking feature. Instead of tapping in a security code, you draw a pre-set pattern on the screen, see the image above to see what we mean. This is a great feature -- you can quickly unlock the screen without having to compromise having all your data securely stored behind a "password."
What other surprises are are in store...

Looking at the early pre-release drawings, leaks, and renderings of the T-Mobile G1, there was a funny little question amongst us "hinge nerds." The rail between the screen and the keyboard was curved -- why was that, doesn't the screen just slide straight up?
No. The screen slides to the left and up on a curved track. Why is this cool? It means you can give it a little push with your...

Those of us who are familiar with smartphones know that one of the toughest things to get right in a user interface is alerts. Alerts are not only what pop up when you get a new message, but also what stays around if you miss the initial alert -- indicators and whatnot. Windows Mobile Pro has an annoying pop-over Windows that grabs your attention. PalmOS has a little tiny Bell icon that...

Earlier this month Apple unveiled new iPods, specifically they called the new iPod Touch "The funnest iPod Ever." The grammatically incorrect formulation of "fun" caused much consternation amongst the former English majors in the Blogosphere, including yours-truly.
With the above bit from HTC about how well the G1 integrates with Google, they just cause the zone of my brain that handles...

We've just received word that any minute now you'll able to pre-order the T-Mobile G1:
Starting today, T-Mobile customers can pre-order the T-Mobile G1 at http://www.T-MobileG1.com. Beginning October 22nd, the device will be available at select T-Mobile retail stores for a $179 with a two-year voice and data agreement. In addition, the T-Mobile G1 will also be available in the United...

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